THE HOT STORY

Most UAE firms allow staff to continue remote working

Remote and flexible work arrangements persist throughout the UAE and other Gulf countries, and the majority of companies are not requiring employees to return to the office, according to research from Mercer. Ted Raffoul, partner and career and workforce products business leader for Mena at Mercer, told Khaleej Times: “Average work-from-home levels remain substantial, including 62% in the UAE, 64% in Kuwait and 86% in Lebanon. Most organisations are also still not requiring employees to return to the office. In the UAE, for example, 82% said they were not requiring a return, with similarly high figures across the region. This suggests remote working is still playing an important role in business continuity, but it also means arrangements introduced at speed are now lasting long enough to raise practical questions about consistency, communication and future expectations.”

Khaleej Times Online

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WORKPLACE

Saudi Arabia to expand workplace nurseries to support working parents

The Saudi Council of Ministers has instructed the Ministry of Education to collaborate with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to establish childcare nurseries at workplaces with many employees. The initiative aims to enhance women's participation in the workforce and support early childhood development goals under Saudi Vision 2030. The Cabinet has tasked authorities with creating regulations for these nurseries, addressing operational challenges, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Cabinet members also emphasised the need for awareness among employees about the benefits of workplace nurseries, which should be funded within existing budgets.

Saudi Gazette

WORKFORCE

Oman plans jobs framework for civil society sector

The National Employment Programme in Oman is establishing a governance system for civil society and charitable sectors to enhance economic development and job creation. During a recent meeting, officials discussed creating an integrated framework to improve the contribution of these sectors to employment generation and sustainable growth. They emphasised linking community initiatives with national priorities and labour market needs. A proposed national committee will oversee the development of regulatory frameworks and measure the impact of initiatives.

Oman Observer

HIRING

Bahrain ministry seeks to speed up employer recruitment requests

Bahrain's Ministry of Labour has enhanced its candidate referral service for employers, reducing processing time from five working days to one. The fully automated system allows employers to submit requests via the National Employment Platform, improving user experience and efficiency. Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of the Ministry, said: "This development reflects our commitment to innovative digital solutions that speed up recruitment and improve access to suitable candidates." Over 1,300 government services have been documented and improved as part of ongoing efforts to enhance service quality and efficiency.

Gdn Online

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Riyadh Air launches Train to Hire program

Riyadh Air has introduced the Nawat Cabin Crew Program, aiming to recruit thousands of Saudi nationals for cabin crew roles. The initiative supports the airline's goal to connect Saudi Arabia to over 100 global destinations by 2030. Nahar Aljahani, senior VP of Talent Acquisition, said: “Riyadh Air is fully committed to building a national talent pipeline in the aviation sector.” The eight-month training program, developed with Bunyan for Training Academy, will begin in August 2026, equipping candidates with essential skills for their roles. Applications are now open online and at national roadshows.

Zawya EN

INTERNATIONAL

Increasing gap between young and older Americans' views of the job market

A Gallup World Poll has identified a significant decline in younger Americans' confidence about their job prospects - at a time when their elders remain more upbeat. Only 43% of US individuals aged 15-34 believe it's "a good time" to find a job, compared to 64% of those aged 55 and over. This is a stark contrast to the global trend: globally, the median share of younger people who say it's “a good time” to find work in their local job market is 48%, compared with 38% among older people. “It's an incredibly new phenomenon,” Benedict Vigers of Gallup says. He notes that last year was the first time in Gallup's decades of polling that young Americans were more pessimistic about the job market than their peers in other developed countries. “Has this happened in most other advanced economies? The answer is a resounding no,” Vigers says.

Los Angeles Times

AI used to train firm's lawyers on soft skills

Law firm Perkins Coie's London office is seeking to enhance its lawyers' soft skills through a partnership with AI training platform Levra. The firm is beta testing a program that uses avatars to simulate scenarios focused on emotional and social intelligence. Ian Bagshaw, the managing partner of Perkins Coie’s London office, said: “We’re working with [Levra] in order to create a training pathway across core skills that allows our talent to practice, learn, practice outside of client situations, so that when they’re in client situations and when they’re in difficult internal situations, they are prepared, they’ve seen it before, they understand how best to communicate.” Bagshaw added: “The use of technology creates an absolute safe space for people to experiment . . . It’s very hard to recreate it in any human coaching environment.”

ABA Journal

Law

Electric trucks are taking off in China as diesel prices soar

Sales of electric trucks in China tripled in 2025. Improving battery and charging technology is making electrification of long-distance and heavy haulage more viable, and the nascent sector is expected to get a boost from the Iran war, as higher diesel prices potentially stimulate electric truck sales. “Fleet operators are switching because the math finally works, not just because of regulatory pressure,” said Xu Shuo, chief financial officer at GAC Lingcheng, a Guangzhou-based company which sells commercial vehicles domestically. “Charging may take some time, but I plan it along with my breaks and it’s not a problem,” said an electric truck driver identified only as Shen. “The cost savings really make a difference.”

Bloomberg

Lula moves to end Brazil’s six-day working week

Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has proposed cutting maximum weekly hours from 44 to 40 to in effect end the six-day working week, without reducing wages.

Financial Times

OTHER

Mauritius targets wealth with golden visa program

Mauritius has said it expects to attract 100 high-net-worth-individuals annually through its golden visa program. The plan, which requires holders to invest at least $1m within a year of their arrival in the island nation, was set up after “multiple enquiries” from foreigners seeking to relocate with their families, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam said. Bloomberg notes critics who argue such programs deepen inequality by giving opportunities to the rich that are denied to others. Ramgoolam said safeguards are in place to mitigate risks. “With respect to the risks of money laundering and illicit financial flows, a robust, risk-based due diligence framework is already in place.”

Bloomberg

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